What discrimination did MLK fight?
He is known around the world as one of the most significant leaders of the civil rights movement. In the 1950s and 1960s King and many others fought to end racial segregation (separate public facilities for blacks and whites) in the southern United States and discrimination against African Americans.
What did MLK do racial equality?
Over the following decade, King wrote, spoke and organized nonviolent protests and mass demonstrations to draw attention to racial discrimination and to demand civil rights legislation to protect the rights of African-Americans.
What methods of protest did MLK use and why?
He is also remembered for his urge to use nonviolence as the most effective form of protest (even when violence was threatened against him and his family), and his strong desire to bring about equality and civil rights for African Americans during the civil-rights movement.
What did MLK really fight for?
Martin Luther King Jr. sought to raise the public consciousness of racism, to end racial discrimination and segregation in the United States. While his goal was racial equality, King plotted out a series of smaller objectives that involved local grassroots campaigns for equal rights for African Americans.
What did Martin Luther King believe in?
Martin Luther King, Jr. believed all men are created equal and should enjoy the same rights and privileges. One of his most poignant lines from his famous I Have a Dream speech was that he hoped his children would be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin.
How did Martin Luther King make a difference?
He advocated for peaceful approaches to some of society's biggest problems. He organized a number of marches and protests and was a key figure in the American civil rights movement. He was instrumental in the Memphis sanitation workers' strike, the Montgomery bus boycott, and the March on Washington.
What did the MLK riots accomplish?
This was civil rights getting personal. The riots quickly revived the bill. On April 5, Johnson wrote a letter to the United States House of Representatives urging passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which included the Fair Housing Act.
Why is Martin Luther King a hero?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is known as one of America's greatest heroes. In the 1950s and 1960s, he fought to end laws that were unfair to African Americans. He worked to make sure all Americans had equal rights.
Why was nonviolence effective in the civil rights movement?
A major factor in the success of the movement was the strategy of protesting for equal rights without using violence. Civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King championed this approach as an alternative to armed uprising. King's non-violent movement was inspired by the teachings of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi.
When is MLK Day?
Every year since 1986, the United States has observed the birth date of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on the third Monday in January. Celebrated both nationally and internationally, “ MLK Day ” commemorates Dr. King’s accomplishments and encourages others to serve and uplift their communities.
What was the Fair Housing Act?
The Fair Housing Act was signed into law one week after Dr. King’s assassination. This act prohibited discrimination in the sale and rental of housing. Today, over 50 years later the act is still in place, but we still remain a long way off from realizing Dr. King’s housing vision.
What was the biggest victory of the housing movement?
The movement also served as a lesson for housing advocates today by stressing the importance of local policies, building coalitions of diverse groups and stakeholders, and emphasizing that everyone played a role in forwarding the movement — no matter how big or small. Above all, the biggest victory to come was the Fair Housing Act in 1968.
Why did the Chicago movement call for open housing?
The movement called for “open housing” to let Black people seeking homeownership to do so wherever they wished.
What was Martin Luther King's goal?
sought to raise the public consciousness of racism, to end racial discrimination and segregation in the United States. While his goal was racial equality, King plotted out a series of smaller objectives that involved local grassroots campaigns for equal rights for African Americans.
What were blacks forced to do in the mid-20th century?
By the mid-20th century, blacks were still forced to use separate public utilities and schools from the superior ones reserved for whites; they suffered routine discrimination in employment and housing, as well as abuse and lynching from some whites, and they were unable to fully exercise their right to vote.
What was the purpose of the Montgomery campaign?
King and fellow African American civil rights activists to form the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, whose mission was to harness the moral authority and organizing power of black churches to conduct non-violent protests for civil rights reform. With King as its leader, the SCLC's initial focus was to lead localized campaigns of desegregation in Southern cities like Albany, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; and St. Augustine, Florida that mirrored the Montgomery campaign. In each of the cities, King and thousands of SCLC activists worked towards specific goals: ending segregation in just one area, such as diners, buses, schools, or shops. Despite the asymmetrically more powerful police and local government officials who had institutionalized policies of segregation for years, King's nonviolent tactics of civic activism forced the issue of segregation onto the national agenda. [5]
When did the Montgomery Bus Boycott end?
The boycotters endured fines, arrests, and even physical attacks, but on November 13th, 1956, the Supreme Court finally ruled that racial segregation laws for buses were unconstitutional. In just over a year, the Montgomery Bus Boycott was ended.
How did the SCLC differ from other civil rights groups?
The SCLC differed from other civil rights groups like the NAACP (the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), in that it was established as an umbrella organization of affiliated churches and community organizations and therefore did not recruit individuals into forming local chapters.
Why was Rosa Parks arrested?
It was there that Rosa Parks, an African American woman, refused to vacate her seat in the middle of the bus so that a white man could sit in her place. She was arrested for her civil disobedience. [2]Parks' arrest, a coordinated tactic meant to spark a grassroots movement, succeeded in catalyzing the Montgomery bus boycott. Parks was chosen by King as the face for his campaign because of Parks' good standing with the community, her employment and her marital status. Earlier in 1955, Claudette Colvin, a 15-year old African American girl, had been arrested for the same crime; however, King and his civil rights compatriots did not feel that she would serve as an effective face for their civil rights campaign. Rosa Parks helped contribute to the image that King wanted to show the world, a crucial tactic in his local campaigns. [3]
What was the significance of the 1963 march on Washington?
By drawing nation-wide attention to segregation, King became a core organizer, one of the "Big Six", of the famous 1963 March on Washington, which demanded political and economic justice for all Americans.
D.C Tuition Assistance Grant Program
For college-bound residents of Washington, D.C., the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant provides grants to students with out-of-state tuition. There is a series of eligibility criteria that determines who can apply for the program, including U.S. citizenship, D.C. residency, academic standing, and others.
Fair Housing Initiatives Program – Private Enforcement Initiative
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides a Fair Housing Initiatives Program – Private Enforcement Initiative to ensure that organizations develop, implement, or coordinate programs or activities to obtain enforcement of the rights granted by the Fair Housing Act or by equivalent state and local fair housing law.
Additional Resources
Along with the programs discussed above, we invite you to learn more about assistance programs and other initiatives for equal opportunities on the Benefits.gov Housing and Public Utilities category or at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website.
What did Martin Luther King Jr. do for the civil rights movement?
is known as one of the greatest civil rights activist in American history which his actions and campaigns led to the equal and fair treatment of all African-Americans.
What was Martin Luther King's method of non-violence?
Martin Luther King's insistence method of using a non-violent approach regardless of the brutality from the oppressor was a major factor in the respect and acknowledgment given to the civil rights movement in America during a time of unrest and unease in the country proving non-violent and peaceful demonstrations are more effective .
What awards did Martin Luther King Jr. receive?
Awards awarded to Martin Luther King Jr.-. Recognized by Time Magazine as one of the most outstanding personalities of the year, 1957. The Spingarn Medal from NAACP, 1957. The Russwurm Award from the National Newspaper Publishers, 1957. The Second Annual Achievement Award - The Guardian Association of the Police Department of New York, 1958.
When was the Marcus Garvey Prize awarded?
The Marcus Garvey Prize for Human Rights, presented by the Jamaican Government. (posthumously) 1968.
What awards did John Dewey receive?
The John Dewey Award, from the United Federation of Teachers, 1964. The John F. Kennedy Award, from the Catholic Interracial Council of Chicago, 1964. The Nobel Peace Prize, 1964. American Liberties Medallion for his “exceptional advancements of the principles of human liberty” from the American Jewish Committee, 1965.
What was King exposed to as a child?
As a child in a strict Christian household, King was exposed to religious doctrine and the folk preaching tradition on which the black Southern Baptist church was built. Folk preaching is a particular style of Baptist oratory that evolved from slave religion.
What does King say about civil rights?
King maintains that the civil rights movement will one day be successful and that his belief in its inevitable success has the ability to propel the movement forward. In 1 Corinthians 13:13b, Paul writes that of the three theological virtues, “the greatest of these is love.”.
What did Moses do for the Israelites?
A man who epitomized good leadership, Moses used faith and the power of God to free his people from a condition of servitude. He was an example of righteousness for the Israelites, abiding by God’s law and resisting temptation to sin throughout a harrowing 40-year journey.
What is freedom Hannah Arendt?
In “What is Freedom?” Hannah Arendt defines a miracle as an act that disrupts the natural processes of life. In the political sphere, miracles are the highly improbable occurrences that introduce change, events that lead to a society’s demise or its salvation. She writes:
What was Jefferson's main grievance with King George?
In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson’s main grievance with King George is his refusal to allow the American colonists representation in British legislature. He claims that “the right of representation in the legislature [is] a right inestimable to [the people] and formidable to tyrants only.”.
What is the philosophy of Martin Luther King?
and Its Influences. Martin Luther King, Jr. is famous for his civil rights activism, his iconic oratory, and his philosophy of freedom and equality. King’s ideas were deeply influenced by his personal ancestry and his roots in the folk Christian church.
What was the faith of the protesters in Mountaintop?
His ideas were grounded in faith in God and assurance that the civil rights movement would succeed. In “Mountaintop,” he describes the faith of protesters in Birmingham, Alabama, explaining that they possessed “a certain kind of fire that no water could put out.”.
Why was King's non-violence important?
Non-violence allowed King to keep attention focused on the issues at hand while allowing people of good conscience to participate (and feel safer doing so). On a more strategic level, though, he was well aware that non-violence may be returned with violence, resulting in TV coverage that would help the viewing public to sympathize with his cause and pierce any indifference to racial issues.
Why did people watch the March on Washington?
To watch a rally on TV such as in 1963’s March on Washington for Freedom and Jobs was to see a new, vital United States. Not the white one depicted on our other shows or in history books taught from in schools. It was the first good look Americans got at themselves.
Why is the US vs. them trick so insidious?
The trick is especially insidious because people lower and lower in the power structure — having taken the bait — are more willingly join in. At that point, us vs. them rationalizes cruelty toward others as the freedom to protect one’s domain.
When did Martin Luther King Jr. die?
It was 50 years ago on April 4th, 1968 that millions across the United States and the world were stunned to learn that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated. Prior to that, for many people, the simple knowledge that Dr. King was out there somewhere working to make the world a better, fairer place had been a comfort, and his killing came as a gut-wrenching shock. People who followed the activist preacher more closely — and certainly King himself — were less surprised. In 1966, after all, a bomb had exploded on the porch of the King residence and death threats were a daily occurrence for his family; he was also surveilled with suspicion by the U.S. government. The night before he died, King spoke to a crowd in Memphis:
Is welfare primarily for black people?
To listen to some, welfare in the U.S. today primarily benefits black Americans and immigrants. It’s not true: Poor whites receive the lion’s share of government money. Of the 70 million Medicare beneficiaries in 2016, 43% were white, 18% black, and 30% Hispanic. 36% of the 43 million food stamp recipients that year were white, 25.6% black, and 17.2% Hispanic (the remaining recipients are unknown).
What is fair treatment?
Fair treatment involves ensuring that your employee’s rights are being respected and that each employee is given individualized treatment. Fair treatment is not to be confused with equal treatment.
Why is it important to establish a reputation of fairness and equality?
As a competitive business , it is essential to establish a reputation of fairness and equality while creating an overall accepting and team-driven atmosphere. Not only that, but ensuring that your employees feel valued and safe within your organization should be a point of pride for every business.
Why is it important to treat employees fairly?
Treating employees fairly in the workplace is not just a moral responsibility. It is also necessary to ensure maximum company growth. When an employee is treated unfairly, it results in decreased employee morale.
What is the right to a progressive system of discipline?
The right to a progressive system of discipline, including oral warning, a written warning, suspension, transfer or demotion, and, as a last resort, discharge.
Why should management have processes in place to reward and recognize employees through fair measurement systems?
Management should have processes in place to reward and recognize employees through fair measurement systems. When every employee sees that they have an opportunity to be recognized and rewarded, trust is cultivated, and fairness in the workplace becomes the norm.
Vision and Motivation
Goals and Objectives
- A Baptist minister by training, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sought to raise the public consciousness of racism, to end racial discrimination and segregation in the United States. While his goal was racial equality, King plotted out a series of smaller objectives that involved local grassroots campaigns for equal rights for African Americans. In 1955...
Leadership
- Born in 1929, King grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, a city plagued by racial segregation. King benefited from both a secular and religious education, receiving a PhD in systematic theology from Boston University in 1955. Shortly after he began his career as a pastor in 1954 at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, the Montgomery civil rights campaign thrust King into …
Civic Environment
- King and his fellow civil rights fighters faced enormous and often brutal opposition from local officials and police forces in Southern cities, civil rights opponents, and white supremacist groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Civil rights protestors were frequently arrested and jailed; King was arrested 30 times for his civil rights activities.Police forces in many Southern cities did not hesitate to us…
Message and Audience
- From the launch of his first civil rights campaign in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955, King emphasized the importance of equality among all races, whether on a bus in Alabama, a restaurant in Georgia, or a voting booth in Mississippi. Moreover, regardless of the issue or the place, King strove to deliver that message utilizing methods of non-violent civic activism that inc…
Outreach Activities
- By carefully shaping his message and image, King was able to win support from a number of organizations within the United States that might otherwise not have supported him. King often used points of cultural reference that would be well-known to his audience, whether white or black, secular or religious. To the American Jewish Congress, for example, King proclaimed, "M…
Learn More
- Books
Burns, Stewart. Daybreak of Freedom: The Montgomery Bus Boycott. USA: University of North Carolina Press, 1997. Branch, Taylor. At Canaan's Edge: America in the King Years 1965-68. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006. Branch, Taylor. Parting the Waters: America in the King Years 195… - Video
"Martin Luther King: I Have a Dream." YouTube. "Death of Martin Luther King, Jr. 1968 Announced by Robert F. Kennedy in Indiana." YouTube. Footnotes "Brown vs. Board of Education: About the Case." Brown Foundation. 11 April 2004. Walsh, Frank (2003). The Montgomery Bus Boycott. Ga…